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GMI in the 1940s

I started with General Motors 55 years ago at the Chevrolet Cleveland plant. Most of my bosses in production had started with Chevrolet in the late 1920s and 1930s (some very turbulent times in the automotive industry). As a General Motors Institute (GMI) student, I was warned that people with higher education were sometimes mistrusted by production workers and union officials.

When I completed my degree in engineering, my first assignment was as a production foreman and the advice I was given by my superintendent was "Now that you are a college graduate go out there and live it down". That was indirect advice to maintain a humble attitude, which was appropriate at the time.

I am pleased to see education is now highly valued on the production floor as well as the engineering and administrative offices. A positive sign for our company and society.

E. Michael Mutchler

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